The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Thymic Epithelial Tumor Staging Project: A Re-Assessment of the International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group/International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Lymph Node Map for Thymic Epithelial Tumors for the Forthcoming Ninth Edition of the TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors.

INTRODUCTION: A lymph node map is the pillar on which accurate assignment and documentation of nodal classification stands. The International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group created the first map for thymic epithelial malignancies in conjunction with the eighth edition of the TNM classification, representing the first official TNM classification of thymic epithelial malignancies. The map was based on clinical experience and published studies, but it was largely empirical because of limited available data. Dissemination of the map and implementation of a standard thymic stage classification across the world in 2017 have provided more consistent and granular data. METHODS: More than twice as many cases of node involvement are available for analysis in the current database compared with that of the eighth edition database, allowing validation of many aspects of the eighth edition map. This article details the process and considerations for refinement of the thymic map for the ninth TNM used by the Thymic Domain of the Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. The committee evaluated a large international collaborative data set, published anatomical and clinical studies pertaining to lymph node spread from thymic epithelial tumors, in conjunction with the analysis underlying refinements of the TNM components for the ninth edition TNM classification. RESULTS: The node map boundaries of the N1 and N2 categories remain unchanged. Visual clarifications have been added to the nomenclature of nodal stations within these regions. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the recommendation to keep the N component unchanged for the ninth edition TNM classification, the lymph node map remains unchanged as well; however, clarifications have been added to facilitate clinical use.

Quantitative CT Assessment of Gynecomastia in the General Population and in Dialysis, Cirrhotic, and Obese Patients.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Gynecomastia is the benign enlargement of the male breast because of proliferation of the glandular component. To date, there is no radiological definition of gynecomastia and no quantitative evaluation of breast glandular tissues in the general male population. The aims of this study were to supply radiological-based measurements of breast glandular tissue in the general male population, to quantitatively assess the prevalence of gynecomastia according to age by decades, and to evaluate associations between gynecomastia and obesity, cirrhosis, and dialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 506 men who presented to the emergency department following trauma and underwent chest-abdominal computed tomography. Also included were 45 patients undergoing hemodialysis and 50 patients with cirrhosis who underwent chest computed tomography. The incidence and size of gynecomastia for all the study population were calculated. RESULTS: Breast tissue diameters of 22 mm, 28 mm, and 36 mm corresponded to 90th, 95th, and 97.5th cumulative percentiles of diameters in the general male population. Peaks of gynecomastia were shown in the ninth decade and in boys aged 13-14 years. Breast tissue diameter did not correlate with body mass index (r = -0.031). Patients undergoing hemodialysis and patients with cirrhosis had higher percentages (P < .0001) of breast tissue diameters above 22 mm, 28 mm, and 36 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Breast tissue diameter is a simple and reliable quantitative tool for the assessment of gynecomastia. This method provides the ability to determine the incidence of gynecomastia by age in the general population. Radiological gynecomastia should be defined as 22 mm, 28 mm, or 36 mm (90th, 95th, and 97.5th percentiles, respectively). Radiological gynecomastia is not associated with obesity, but is associated with cirrhosis and dialysis.

A practical guide from the International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group (ITMIG) regarding the radiographic assessment of treatment response of thymic epithelial tumors using modified RECIST criteria.

Measuring tumor response to chemotherapy is important for both clinical decision-making and for multi-institutional studies. Thymoma tends to spread along the pleura: a challenge for accurate tumor measurement. Inaccurate and inconsistent tumor measurements often compromise results from clinical trials that are dependent on identifying response rate and progression-free survival. In this article, we sought to provide a practical guide on how to measure thymoma by the International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group's recommendations for standard outcome measures. The aim of this article is to clarify this measuring technique, lead to consistency between institutions, and minimize intra- and interobserver variability.

Multimodality imaging evaluation of esophageal cancer: staging, therapy assessment, and complications.

Esophageal cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The management of patients with esophageal cancer is determined to a large extent by patient performance status, location of the primary cancer, and stage of disease at presentation. Multimodality regimens combining neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy followed by surgery have been increasingly used in suitable candidates with locally advanced cancer. There is substantial morbidity and mortality associated with this treatment strategy, which makes appropriate patient selection important. Endoscopic esophageal ultrasound is the optimal modality to evaluate the local extent of the primary tumor and diagnose locoregional nodal metastasis. Computed tomography is more useful in detecting distant nodal and systemic metastasis. Positron emission tomography/CT is increasingly being used in patient management and improves the accuracy of staging, particularly in the detection of distant nodal and systemic metastatic disease. In this article, we review the role of imaging in the staging, assessment of therapeutic response, and detection of recurrent disease, as well as the evaluation of therapeutic complications in patients with esophageal cancer.

FDG PET-CT aids in the preoperative assessment of patients with newly diagnosed thymic epithelial malignancies.

INTRODUCTION: Advanced thymoma (stage III and IV) is difficult to detect by computed tomography (CT), yet it is important to distinguish between early (stage I and II) and advanced disease before surgery, as patients with locally advanced tumors require neoadjuvant chemotherapy to enable effective resection. This study assessed whether the amount of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake can predict advanced thymoma and whether it can separate thymoma from thymic cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed FDG positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scans of 51 consecutive newly diagnosed patients with thymic epithelial malignancy. PET-CT findings documented focal FDG activity: SUVmax, SUVmean, SUVpeak, and total body volumetric standardized uptake value (SUV) measurements. These were correlated with Masaoka-Koga staging and World Health Organization classification. Wilcoxon ranked sum tests were used to assess association between SUV and pathological stage, cancer type, and classification. RESULTS: Among the study patients, 37 had thymoma, 12 thymic carcinoma, and 2 thymic carcinoid. Higher focal FDG uptake was seen in patients with type B3 thymoma than in those with type A, AB, B1, or B2 thymoma (p < 0.006). FDG uptake was higher in patients with thymic carcinoma or carcinoid than in patients with thymoma (p < 0.0003), with more variable associations with volumetric SUV measurements. There was no significant association observed between higher focal FDG uptake and advanced-stage disease in thymoma patients (p > 0.09), although greater FDG-avid tumor volume was significantly associated with advanced disease (p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Focal FDG uptake cannot predict advanced thymoma but is helpful in distinguishing thymoma from thymic carcinoma, or the more aggressive thymoma, type B3.

Preoperative chemo-radiation-induced ulceration in patients with esophageal cancer: a confounding factor in tumor response assessment in integrated computed tomographic-positron emission tomographic imaging.

HYPOTHESIS: Positron emission tomography can be useful in predicting response of esophageal cancer after preoperative chemo-radiation therapy (CRT). We evaluated the use of integrated computed tomography (CT)-PET among patients with esophageal cancer being considered for resection after CRT. METHODS: Three reviewers blinded to clinical and pathologic staging retrospectively reviewed the CT-PET scans of patients with esophageal cancer after preoperative CRT who underwent esophagectomy. [F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake for residual malignancy was determined by visual analysis and semi-quantitatively when standardized uptake value (SUV) was > or =4. RESULTS: Forty-two patients underwent esophageal resection. Using visual analysis, CT-PET had a sensitivity of 47% and specificity of 58% in detecting residual malignancy. Using semi-quantitative analysis, 19 patients had a SUV > or =4 in the region of the primary esophageal tumor and were interpreted as having residual malignancy (sensitivity 43%, specificity 50%). Of these 19, six had complete pathologic response to CRT. These false-positive results, due to therapy-induced ulceration detected at endoscopy, limit the use of CT-PET alone in detecting residual malignancy. Similarly, sensitivity (25%) and specificity (73%) of endoscopy/biopsy in detecting residual malignancy were poor. However, the accuracy of CT-PET in detecting residual malignancy was improved when combined with endoscopic findings. In the absence of ulceration at endoscopy, 8 of 8 patients with SUV > or =4 after chemo-radiation had residual malignancy at surgery. CONCLUSIONS: CRT-induced ulceration results in false-positive results on CT-PET and precludes accurate detection of residual esophageal tumor. However, CT-PET in combination with endoscopy is useful in identifying patients with a high risk of residual tumor post-CRT.